Worst air pollution Palm Desert, today and tomorrow
Today (15 July): Air quality in Palm Desert is fair. AQI, PM2.5, PM10, and O3 are fair; NO2, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (PM10: 32.4/100).
Tomorrow (16 July 2026): Air quality in Palm Desert is fair. PM2.5 decreases to good; all other pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 29.7/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app
Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team
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Palm Desert's air quality reflects the Coachella Valley's enclosed desert basin between the San Jacinto and Little San Bernardino mountains, with vehicle emissions from SR-111 the primary local source. The Banning Pass wind provides powerful periodic ventilation, while under calm conditions the valley's near-complete mountain enclosure creates persistent temperature inversion episodes, windblown desert dust contributes PM10, and summer monsoon ozone from vehicle and desert emissions are the primary seasonal concerns throughout the year.
Today - 15 July | Pollution peaks at 11:00
AQI:
Fair
32.4/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Fair
21.7/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
32.4/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
1.7/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
30.4/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
4.4/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
4.0/100
Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day
Tomorrow - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 09:00
AQI:
Fair
29.7/100
PM2.5 (fine particles):
Good
17.8/100
PM10 (coarse particles):
Fair
27.9/100
NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):
Good
2.6/100
O3 (ozone):
Fair
29.7/100
SO2 (sulfur dioxide):
Good
6.2/100
CO (carbon monoxide):
Good
0.0/100
HCHO (formaldehyde):
Good
0.9/100
PM1 (ultrafine particles):
Good
4.0/100
Pollen forecast in Palm Desert
View pollen forecastFrequently Asked Questions
Is air quality bad in Palm Desert right now?
On 15 July 2026, overall air quality in Palm Desert is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 32.4/100. Pollution peaks around 11:00 AM (PM10: 32.4/100).
Will air quality be worse tomorrow in Palm Desert?
On 16 July 2026, air quality conditions in Palm Desert will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 29.7/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (O3: 29.7/100).
When is air pollution at its worst in Palm Desert?
Seasonal changes shape air quality across Palm Desert: the cleanest air usually comes in winter, when storms periodically flush pollution out of the basin, but hot, sunny summer conditions drive persistent ozone problems, compounded by wildfire smoke risk into early autumn. Coastal breezes offer some relief compared to inland valley locations that see heavier smog buildup.
Are air quality levels in Palm Desert based on measurements or forecasts?
It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.
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Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)
This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.
Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.
For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app